By Solis H.B. No. 2614 77R7584 YDB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a dental services pilot program in border-region 1-3 counties. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. (a) The Texas Department of Health shall develop 1-6 and implement a dental care pilot program to provide dental 1-7 services to indigent residents of this state in border-region 1-8 counties selected by the department. 1-9 (b) The Texas Department of Health shall implement the pilot 1-10 program to: 1-11 (1) improve the dental health of indigent residents of 1-12 the selected counties; and 1-13 (2) ensure certain individuals in selected counties 1-14 receive dental services. 1-15 (c) The Texas Board of Health by rule shall establish 1-16 eligibility criteria for the pilot program. The criteria must 1-17 require that program participants: 1-18 (1) live within the identified region; 1-19 (2) have an income below a maximum income level 1-20 specified by department rule; and 1-21 (3) provide written consent to receipt of dental 1-22 services. 1-23 (d) The department shall determine the dental services to be 1-24 provided to program participants, which may include: 2-1 (1) screening for various dental conditions; and 2-2 (2) filling cavities, cleaning teeth, and other dental 2-3 services. 2-4 (e) In designing and implementing the program, the Texas 2-5 Department of Health shall ensure that: 2-6 (1) a program participant receives, at no cost to the 2-7 participant, dental services provided through the pilot program; 2-8 and 2-9 (2) the quality of dental services provided to a 2-10 program participant is frequently monitored and evaluated. 2-11 (f) The Texas Board of Health shall adopt rules necessary 2-12 for the implementation of the program. 2-13 (g) Not later than December 1, 2002, the Texas Department of 2-14 Health shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the 2-15 program that includes: 2-16 (1) an analysis of: 2-17 (A) the program's cost-effectiveness; and 2-18 (B) the program's effect on the quality of 2-19 dental care received by program participants; and 2-20 (2) recommendations regarding elimination, 2-21 continuation, or expansion of the program. 2-22 (h) This section expires September 1, 2003. 2-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.